Barry named water polo coach at Concordia

Dreason Barry, a former UC Irvine standout and Anteaters assistant, has been named the head coach of the Concordia men’s and women’s water polo programs, the university announced Wednesday.

Barry becomes the third head coach in men’s program history and the fourth women’s coach.

He joined the Concordia water polo staff as an assistant in 2014.

“Concordia is pleased to announce that Dreason Barry will be elevated to the university’s head coach of its men’s and women’s water polo teams,” Concordia Executive Vice President Gary McDaniel said in a release. “His collegiate career and his proven work ethic will serve our program well.”

Barry came most recently from UC Irvine, where he was an assistant coach from 2009-2014. During that same time period, he also served as an assistant coach with the Newport Water Polo Foundation. Also from 2009-2014, he was the senior coach of the Anteater Water Polo Club, a youth program in Irvine. Additionally, in 2007, he was the head coach of the Sage Hill School girls’ water polo team and an assistant coach with the Corona del Mar Youth Water Polo Club.

“I have been leading these kids spiritually, academically, athletically, and with community service for the past year,” Barry said. “The NCAA Division II move will be challenging, but also very exciting. I believe my experience in the NCAA will help us in the transition.”

Barry’s playing career at UCI is extensive. He was a three-time All-American from 2001-2005, a Peter J. Cutino Award finalist, and a Big West Conference Scholar-Athlete. He was a three-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Conference selection, and his teams finished in the NCAA top-four twice. He also competed on the swim team from 2004-2006.

“Dreason’s repertoire with the student-athletes stood out in his first season here, and I am confident in his ability to lead both of our programs into NCAA Division II competition,” Concordia Athletic Director David Bireline said. “It is rewarding to see a Christian man like Dreason get his first collegiate head coaching job and I know he will continue to lead in an impressive fashion.”

He was a member of the USA Men’s National Team from 2002-2009, and won the ASUA Cup in Brazil in 2006. He played professionally in Italy from 2007-2009, and in Australia in 2014.

“Dreason Barry knows the expectations we have given, I think we have hired a guy who will give our student-athletes a great experience at CUI,” CUI Associate Athletic Director Mo Roberson said. “Dreason has been a part of the water polo world at a very high level and now he will have an opportunity to translate that to our student-athletes.”

Barry received his BA in sociology from UCI in 2006, and is originally from Eugene, Ore.

— From staff reports